USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
- Thread starter Probert
- Start date
PrezdeJohnson09
Proud supporter of Osmirwich hockey
As usual a very uneventful final day.
Has L'Equippe accused Pinot of doping after his other worldy performance in the Time Trial or do they only do that if it's a non French cyclist.
Quietest 8th place finish by Zubeldia ever?
He did the same thing in 2012 when he finished 6th...
Never really around or talked about during the stages and then all of a sudden consistency wears through and there he is in the top 10 at the end of the Tour.
Pretty impressive for a 37-year old. Still got it in the ole legs.
Re: Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
And so begins the long month between the end of the Tour and the start of Football season. Really about the only month where there are no sports on that I care about.
I just watched on DVR, so I was listening for this, and he did, indeed refer to him as a Chinaman. A few sentences earlier, he said "first Chinese man to blah, blah, blah" but the second time around he shortened it a bit. Yikes.
And so begins the long month between the end of the Tour and the start of Football season. Really about the only month where there are no sports on that I care about.
XYZ
Smoking in the selection room.
How is that any different than Englishman, Irishman, Frenchman, etc., all of which get said 100s of times during the race?
Re: Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
Did you pre-read the Wiki page? Interestingly enough, it also references "Englishman, Frenchman, and Irishman" as being similar terms which are not offensive.
XYZ
Smoking in the selection room.
No I don't read wiki to help me decide what I should think is offensive and what isn't. As with many words it can be used in different ways, and using it in the middle of a glowing commentary on the guy is about the last thing I'm going to find offensive.
I don't even like Liggett but this is so far from being an issue it isn't even funny. Amusingly,after looking up the full comment, I note ol' Phil didn't point out the guy was in last because he does an enormous amount of pulling in early and middle portions of stages. He should have -- dude is a workhorse in that regard and thus a pretty valuable rider, even if he is a man...from China.
XYZ
Smoking in the selection room.
I knew that was coming...
Anyway, what are people's overall impressions of the race? I've heard a decent amount of griping about it being lousy because no one could touch Nibbles, but obviously that's mainly due to Contador, and perhaps Froome, crashing out and those are things no one can plan for.
While there weren't final week fireworks for the top spot, I thought the race design itself was the best in years and lent itself to very entertaining and unpredictable stages, relatively. Stage 2 was fantastic, stage 5 also, and we actually saw some solo breaks succeed thanks in large part to stage design. Martin and Navardauskas come to mind, and Bauer almost did it, just to name a few. Have to say I was quite pleased overall with the day-to-day action. Too bad this wasn't the course last year...
manurespreader
Still upright
Re: Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
You know the weather made this tour less good for me. Too many days of rain, too many accidents because of it. But I agree the design was great, and of course I love it no matter what. Usually go to the web site of the towns they are in to see if I want to go there.
I would have liked another time trial in there somewhere.
Did you see that article in the NY times about how much money the teams spend and the new contract season going on now? pretty interesting. I think sky spends at least twice as much as the next highest team.
You know the weather made this tour less good for me. Too many days of rain, too many accidents because of it. But I agree the design was great, and of course I love it no matter what. Usually go to the web site of the towns they are in to see if I want to go there.
I would have liked another time trial in there somewhere.
Did you see that article in the NY times about how much money the teams spend and the new contract season going on now? pretty interesting. I think sky spends at least twice as much as the next highest team.
Re: Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
I agree with you on the route of the Tour and thought it was very good. However, the overall race was a snoozer for me. I usually prefer to watch mountain stages over sprint stages, but once Contador went out those became boring as it was apparent that Nibali was in a class of his own and wasn't going to crack.
I knew that was coming...
Anyway, what are people's overall impressions of the race? I've heard a decent amount of griping about it being lousy because no one could touch Nibbles, but obviously that's mainly due to Contador, and perhaps Froome, crashing out and those are things no one can plan for.
While there weren't final week fireworks for the top spot, I thought the race design itself was the best in years and lent itself to very entertaining and unpredictable stages, relatively. Stage 2 was fantastic, stage 5 also, and we actually saw some solo breaks succeed thanks in large part to stage design. Martin and Navardauskas come to mind, and Bauer almost did it, just to name a few. Have to say I was quite pleased overall with the day-to-day action. Too bad this wasn't the course last year...
I agree with you on the route of the Tour and thought it was very good. However, the overall race was a snoozer for me. I usually prefer to watch mountain stages over sprint stages, but once Contador went out those became boring as it was apparent that Nibali was in a class of his own and wasn't going to crack.
dxmnkd316
Lucia Apologist
Re: Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
I think the next few years are going to be extremely interesting depending on how the future stars team musical chairs plays out. If you see either of Pinot or Bardet jump (I have absolutely no idea where they are with their contracts) things could get fun. Seeing the "young" riders (Pinot, Bardet, Quintana, Van Garderen, Kwiatkowski, etc.) duking it out with the "older" riders (Contador, Valverde, Froome) would be an interesting plot line moving forward.
I'm also very, very curious where Sagan is going to land. I'd hate to see him land on a team that isn't built around him. I know it's POSSIBLE to have a team built around a GC and a sprinter (Sky 2012?), but it takes a massive budget. However, I do recall one of the announcers saying that Sagan doesn't like his team to lead him out, so maybe he could fit in on a team with a GC contender. But at this point, I think I'm just rambling.
I think the next few years are going to be extremely interesting depending on how the future stars team musical chairs plays out. If you see either of Pinot or Bardet jump (I have absolutely no idea where they are with their contracts) things could get fun. Seeing the "young" riders (Pinot, Bardet, Quintana, Van Garderen, Kwiatkowski, etc.) duking it out with the "older" riders (Contador, Valverde, Froome) would be an interesting plot line moving forward.
I'm also very, very curious where Sagan is going to land. I'd hate to see him land on a team that isn't built around him. I know it's POSSIBLE to have a team built around a GC and a sprinter (Sky 2012?), but it takes a massive budget. However, I do recall one of the announcers saying that Sagan doesn't like his team to lead him out, so maybe he could fit in on a team with a GC contender. But at this point, I think I'm just rambling.
PrezdeJohnson09
Proud supporter of Osmirwich hockey
Sky did it 2012 and Cavendish complained and pouted because he didn't have the lead out train like he did with Columbia all the time.
Then in 2013 he switched to Omega-Pharma which was once again built around him.
XYZ
Smoking in the selection room.
Most rumors about Sagan have circled around BMC, Tinkoff and Astana. While all three have the money, BMC is always rumored for every big name, Tinkoff was all the rage earlier in the spring while as of late a lot of talk has been focused on Astana. If I had to bet...I'd go with Astana.
There have also been numerous rumors of Pinot to Sky, which I really, really, hope doesn't happen. While it would fit with Brailsford's recent "random" comments about a potential tdf win by a Frenchman in the near future, FDJ has more money than many realize, he has a family connection to the team and is on really good terms with Madiot and the rest of management. Gives me some amount of optimism that he stays.
Either way we should find out soon as the transfer window opens on 8/1...
There have also been numerous rumors of Pinot to Sky, which I really, really, hope doesn't happen. While it would fit with Brailsford's recent "random" comments about a potential tdf win by a Frenchman in the near future, FDJ has more money than many realize, he has a family connection to the team and is on really good terms with Madiot and the rest of management. Gives me some amount of optimism that he stays.
Either way we should find out soon as the transfer window opens on 8/1...
Re: Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
I thought it was a pretty good balance. A VERY short prologue would have been OK but I abhor team time trials. As an example, no way Peraud, Bardet, or Pinot would have been anywhere near the podium.
Thats the last like 10 tours for me. The GC held no mystery. Well I guess the Evans Tour has some intregue, and before that, maybe the Sastre Tour (I thought it was going to be F. Schleck).
As for successful GC/Sprinter combos, I think the best example is Telekom with Ullrich and Zabel. Zabel like Sagan wasn't the fastest guy and often could do well with minimal help. I still think Sagan is destined for Tinkoff. Oleg make a veiled reference to contending for both the yellow and green next year so...
As for Pinot and FDJ, I might be wrong but I think Mardiot basically made a choice between Pinot and Bouhanni. With X amount of Euros, he didn't feel like he could keep Demare, Bouhanni, and Pinot. Bouhanni is basically out so he should have the cash to sign Pinot whenever his contract is out.
Just say no to SKY.
I thought it was a pretty good balance. A VERY short prologue would have been OK but I abhor team time trials. As an example, no way Peraud, Bardet, or Pinot would have been anywhere near the podium.
Thats the last like 10 tours for me. The GC held no mystery. Well I guess the Evans Tour has some intregue, and before that, maybe the Sastre Tour (I thought it was going to be F. Schleck).
As for successful GC/Sprinter combos, I think the best example is Telekom with Ullrich and Zabel. Zabel like Sagan wasn't the fastest guy and often could do well with minimal help. I still think Sagan is destined for Tinkoff. Oleg make a veiled reference to contending for both the yellow and green next year so...
As for Pinot and FDJ, I might be wrong but I think Mardiot basically made a choice between Pinot and Bouhanni. With X amount of Euros, he didn't feel like he could keep Demare, Bouhanni, and Pinot. Bouhanni is basically out so he should have the cash to sign Pinot whenever his contract is out.
Just say no to SKY.
XYZ
Smoking in the selection room.
I hope you're right, but every time I've seen this come up it's been put forth as a Bouhanni v Demare issue. Both in terms of money and the fact the hate each other. Most people hate Bouhanni, in fact. I guess he's a very difficult guy to deal with, period. That's at least what I've read in a variety of places, but if there's a Pinot tie-in to the money they won't be spending on Bouhanni, all the better. Sky can have Bardet, just leave my FDJ alone
.
rufus
rock and roller
Re: Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
The reason the TDF GC is so anti-climactic(boring) is because no one among the top contenders will risk it all to make an attack and possibly crack and fall out of contention. They all have the same attitude that Tejay voiced earlier when asked what he might do on a stage in the Pyrenees "If I sense some weakness among the top contenders, then I might make an attack". Sheesh. "sense some weakness". How about forcing them into some weakness?
This tour was animated by the three Frenchmen(oops, bad word), but a lot of that was cause they wanted to be the top Frenchman in the race. Valverde finally tried something toward the end, but just didn't have it to make it stick. Should have been doing that every chance he could. The rest just follow wheels and hope the guys ahead of them fall off or start crapping their bibs and drop out. Who's the last guy that really laid it on the line to win the Tour, Landis? Sorry for bringing up that cheater. But ok, maybe Cadel.
But Nibali did. He sensed his chance on that second stage in Britain and made his move while the others held back. Then he kept on doing it. What would have happened if he had cracked on any of those stages where he rode away for the win? All he had to do was ride in with the main group, and he keeps the jersey. But he went anyway. Winning the race like a true champion.
The reason the TDF GC is so anti-climactic(boring) is because no one among the top contenders will risk it all to make an attack and possibly crack and fall out of contention. They all have the same attitude that Tejay voiced earlier when asked what he might do on a stage in the Pyrenees "If I sense some weakness among the top contenders, then I might make an attack". Sheesh. "sense some weakness". How about forcing them into some weakness?
This tour was animated by the three Frenchmen(oops, bad word), but a lot of that was cause they wanted to be the top Frenchman in the race. Valverde finally tried something toward the end, but just didn't have it to make it stick. Should have been doing that every chance he could. The rest just follow wheels and hope the guys ahead of them fall off or start crapping their bibs and drop out. Who's the last guy that really laid it on the line to win the Tour, Landis? Sorry for bringing up that cheater. But ok, maybe Cadel.
But Nibali did. He sensed his chance on that second stage in Britain and made his move while the others held back. Then he kept on doing it. What would have happened if he had cracked on any of those stages where he rode away for the win? All he had to do was ride in with the main group, and he keeps the jersey. But he went anyway. Winning the race like a true champion.
Last edited:
Re: Your 2014 EPO Free Cycling Thread
More transfer news... the Bouhanni transfer came with a leadout train, Chainel, Soupe, and Rollin. In odd transfer news, Rohan Dennis is transfering now. He will ride the Vuelta with BMC, not Gamin, who he was with yesterday.
And I agree rufus, watching the Badger thing on ESPN, where Hinault would attack on the 2nd climb and such was a reminder. Its why the Gardiacecca stage of the Giro a few years ago was awesome. The GC guys were isolated almost 100K from the finish and they attacked (or at least Nibali did) each other. Its also why I miss Conti, you know he would have attacked.
More transfer news... the Bouhanni transfer came with a leadout train, Chainel, Soupe, and Rollin. In odd transfer news, Rohan Dennis is transfering now. He will ride the Vuelta with BMC, not Gamin, who he was with yesterday.
And I agree rufus, watching the Badger thing on ESPN, where Hinault would attack on the 2nd climb and such was a reminder. Its why the Gardiacecca stage of the Giro a few years ago was awesome. The GC guys were isolated almost 100K from the finish and they attacked (or at least Nibali did) each other. Its also why I miss Conti, you know he would have attacked.