Archive for justcycling.myfastforum.org Just Cycling
 


       justcycling.myfastforum.org Forum Index -> Cycling Forum
maffy

World Championships 2009 - Mendrisio 23rd-27th September
RR


elite + u23 TT


women TT

official site

startlists in pdf form here

firming up gradually for elite at http://www.cyclingstartlists.com/

timetables for finalized startlists here
HuwB

You beat me to it, all I have to add is this:-
Technical data

Start / Finish: Mendrisio
Length of course: km 13,800
Height difference: 245 m

Men's Elite – Sunday, 27.09.2009: 19 circuits / 262.2 km / 4,655 m height difference
Men's U23 - Saturday, 26.09.2009: 13 circuits / 179.4 km / 3,185 m height difference
Women's Elite - Saturday, 26.09.2009: 9 circuits / 124.2 km / 2,205 m height difference.



I make those 2 climbs, each about 2kms, so each about 6% gradient.
Thats 76kms of climbing, over 19 laps!
Tough. Should sort the men out from the boys.
4kms descent and about 6 flat........
mr shifter

HuwB wrote:

Start / Finish: Mendrisio
Length of course: km 13,800
Height difference: 245 m


I make those 2 climbs, each about 2kms, so each about 6% gradient.
Thats 76kms of climbing, over 19 laps!
Tough. Should sort the men out from the boys.
4kms descent and about 6 flat........


Well, will it be Cavendish or Greipel. ?????  maybe even Freire

76 climbing, 76 downhill and that leaves 93 on the flat and so you can stay asleep Sunday,  Rolling Eyes
I mean 6% is 1 in 16  and that looks almost like Zolder.

Not as Hard as Milan-San Remo. ????

Be Lucky
Fontfroide

Hey, what is it then?  Most say it is hard, Huw says it is hard, MS claims a sprinter could take it.  Both sprinters and climbers took time off to prepare, what the heck is going on?
HuwB

38-2km climbs. They average just over 6%, but looking at the profile, the first steepens, the second has a ramp at the bottom.
Word is, that it's the toughest course in years.
To me, it sounds like a loaded LBL, but I could be wrong.
Looking at squad picks, I don't think so.
People seem to be tipping the likes of Cunego, Schleck and Valverde.
I haven't seen Cav getting the nod. Wink
mr shifter

HuwB wrote:
38-2km climbs. They average just over 6%, but looking at the profile, the first steepens, the second has a ramp at the bottom.
Word is, that it's the toughest course in years.
To me, it sounds like a loaded LBL, but I could be wrong.
Looking at squad picks, I don't think so.
People seem to be tipping the likes of Cunego, Schleck and Valverde.
I haven't seen Cav getting the nod. Wink


Sorry Hugh, but just picking holes in your figures.
The 6% must be an average and somewhere on one or other climb it must Ramp up to something much Steeper.
The teams will have been there to check out the course.

I think they said something similar in 1999 when an unknown sprinter won. (kathy probably knew him)
Let me remind you 1999 Verona with a 4 km climb of 8% and 4 km's down with 8 km's on the flat.  Sound Familiar.    Rolling Eyes

Be Lucky......and if they don't bring Cavendish then it's Political with Sky Shit.
The biggest International Winner from these Islands (for his age ?) and a Proven winner over the Distance.
Bartali

I don't recall MSR having 38 2km hills so its a very different thing in my book.  And Freire is a very different rider to Cavendish IMO.

It could happen - but I think this one is for the Ardennes men - Cunego, Valverde etc
HuwB

I can't remember last year, never mind 1999! Embarassed

Anyhow, take a look at last years's stats, as that course produced good 'uns.

The road track is 17,350 km long and wholly runs across the city of Varese. As for all the races the route will start and finish inside the Hippodrome. The total rise (3.632 mt for elite men) worth of a medium mountain stage, is due to two climbs that the riders should face at every lap.
The first one is the Montello climb: 1,150 km at an average gradient of 6,5%, followed by a quite technical descent. The highest point of the Ronchi climb is placed with 4 km to go: 3,130 km at an average gradient of 4,5%.
The number of laps for each category is as follows: 15 for the Elite Men (260.25 km)

So, it's tougher than last year.
I'll tell you what stuck out for me, Mr S and that's how short the laps are.
I thought it makes for a very up and down race. short sharp stuff, Ideal for attacking. Once it really kicks off, no resting place.

Right, '99, Big difference..........

Verona: Corso Porta Nuova, 16 laps/ 260 km
Route Description

The beginning of this city-circuit of 16.25 km is completely level, containing several corners for 1.3 km. This is followed by 5.6 km of slight undulations which reach a height of 170 metres (at San Leonardo) where the Torricelle climb starts. This is a 113 m climb in 1.4 km with an average gradient of 8.07% (maximum: 9%), and two hairpins and two right-handers have to be negotiated.




One lump, not two. Less than 22 kms of 8% and Friere can climb a bit better than Cav.
Picking holes in your figures, back! Wink
mr shifter

Huw
I take it that you won't be going to sleep Sunday Afternoon, then.
You've sold me, It's going to be an exciting race.   Wink

The 1999 race was exciting also, especially when Oscar Freire took off for the win. (his first)
you must remember that one.
HuwB

Mr S. It will be the usual fare, whereby the rabbits run for the first 200km, then the race proper begins.
I'll be happy if this year's racing matches last year.
I'm not a huge fan of the world criterium, but I'll certainly be watching.
After all, there ain't much left!
Superbagneres

Tear up that betting slip, Mr S, Cav will not be taking the start line.

Out of interest, what were William Hill offering on him?
kathy

For anyone interested, if you go to Cyclingfans, and click on Eurosport UK, you get a brilliant online feed, by far the best I've ever seen.
Enchantress

Bartali wrote:
I don't recall MSR having 38 2km hills so its a very different thing in my book.  And Freire is a very different rider to Cavendish IMO.

It could happen - but I think this one is for the Ardennes men - Cunego, Valverde etc


Agree - this one will favor that type of rider. I'm thinking il piccolo principe will be a bit fresher than Valverde and thus a slight favorite.
MAILLOT JAUNE

Great watching the Women's TT - Kristin Armstrong blew the field away. Shame for Emma Pooley - pipped for a top ten place by the ever youthful Jeannie Longo!!!!!!!!!!
Slapshot 3

MAILLOT JAUNE wrote:
Great watching the Women's TT - Kristin Armstrong blew the field away. Shame for Emma Pooley - pipped for a top ten place by the ever youthful Jeannie Longo!!!!!!!!!!


I'm annoyed with myself, really thought the ladies TT was tomorrow, was going to change my FP to Kristin Armstrong..  doh!! Rolling Eyes
Fontfroide

MAILLOT JAUNE wrote:
Great watching the Women's TT - Kristin Armstrong blew the field away. Shame for Emma Pooley - pipped for a top ten place by the ever youthful Jeannie Longo!!!!!!!!!!


Youthful, no way.  She is full of wrinkles and totally getting on in age.  She just lives clean, trains hard, eats well, and is the best competitive cyclist still riding.  She is an example to us all.  Although picking her to beat every single other rider younger than her is a bit silly.  In France she can do it, but not in the whole world.  What a cyclist!
MAILLOT JAUNE

I was being sarcastic ff.
Fontfroide

I guess I probably knew that.  Big zero for my sense of humour again.  I should just make straight factual posts.  But I guess I like to celebrate old folks doing well, given that I am one.
MAILLOT JAUNE

Not sure if sarcasm is the right word I should have used, but I think you know what I mean.

It's difficult sometimes when you read a post to be able to determine the mood of it, sometimes it depends on the mood that you're in when you read it as well. Guess that's why emiticons were invented, but even they don't always work  Rolling Eyes

+1 re: Longo
Mrs John Murphy

Frodo out with an aliment that seems to change by the hour.

Shiti Piti has found a nice hotel in Switzerland in case those nice people from Coni come looking for him.
Superbagneres

Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Frodo out with an aliment that seems to change by the hour.



It's been reported as a lung infection - has that changed?
Slapshot 3

Cancellara - wow!!
Bartali

He's unstoppable!!!
SlowRower

Superbagneres wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Frodo out with an aliment that seems to change by the hour.



It's been reported as a lung infection - has that changed?


No, but as Cav hasn't raced recently (to give rise to fresh allegations of doping) or changed physical appearance (to give rise to being likened to other Tolkein characters) MJM is struggling for an original reason to insult him.
Slapshot 3

40 seconds in  16.6 km.......holy shit
Spoo

Wow!  I'd FPed Gustav Larsson and Cencellaras almost caught him by the first check!!

A minute out of the reigning World Champion too Shocked
Slapshot 3

1.17 at the second check..... that's just scary
Fontfroide

But what I really like is that Fabian LOOKS so bloody pretty and rides so well.  So right!  Oh yeah fast too.
Slapshot 3

Grabsch looks like he's dragging his arse around like an old woman compared to Canc.....unbelievable.....and Brad....... that's horrific
Mrs John Murphy

Superbagneres wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Frodo out with an aliment that seems to change by the hour.



It's been reported as a lung infection - has that changed?


I'd seen it listed earlier in the week as a back/stomach problem.

Nevermind SR maybe one day you'll get something right.
SlowRower

Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Superbagneres wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Frodo out with an aliment that seems to change by the hour.



It's been reported as a lung infection - has that changed?


I'd seen it listed earlier in the week as a back/stomach problem.

Nevermind SR maybe one day you'll get something right.


Maybe we just follow different news outlets - It's been reported consistently as a lung problem since Missouri in all the news outlets that I follow.

But that's beside the point, though. There was a certain element of Cav-bashing in your post, I'd say.
Mrs John Murphy

Not really. You were too quick to judge. You're becoming the Lily Allen of Justcycling.
Spoo

Mechanical followed by some bike chucking for Wiggins and hes out. Tough for Bradley though as he was doing well in the 2nd category race...

Its hard to look good while having a strop dressed in a tight skin suit and pointy hat isn't it!  Very Happy
J1A2P3A4

I thought Riis was a DS not a rider. Oh sorry that was Winggins
Superbagneres

Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Superbagneres wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Frodo out with an aliment that seems to change by the hour.



It's been reported as a lung infection - has that changed?


I'd seen it listed earlier in the week as a back/stomach problem.



If you've seen that it is a rogue report - from a quick google search all the reports I can find seem to be consistent.
Mrs John Murphy

Superbagneres wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Superbagneres wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Frodo out with an aliment that seems to change by the hour.



It's been reported as a lung infection - has that changed?


I'd seen it listed earlier in the week as a back/stomach problem.



If you've seen that it is a rogue report - from a quick google search all the reports I can find seem to be consistent.


Possible - RSS feeds can do that.
HuwB

Ridiculously one sided affair.
While I applaud Cancellara's incredible levels of skill and fitness, I actually found the event boring, as a result.
It's hard to equate that level of superiority.
Me, a fan?

Interesting that Vino finished 8th, getting some racing in his legs?  Moving on up.  Same old situation, but too bad Lancie couldn't find it within himself to compete this time of year.  Even Tommy D showed up for crying out loud.
J1A2P3A4

Anybody have any pictures of Winggins throwing his bike?

Yes, good for Vino.
kathy

I fell asleep - and forgot to record it.
MAILLOT JAUNE

Oh dear kathy, you mean you missed Cancellara winning!!!!!

Unfortunately I haven't got a copy of Wiggins bike throwing, but I'm sure you'll find it on YouTube.

Just been checking out Wiggins tweets to see if he's got anything to say about his mechanical - nothing except that he's looking for suggestions for a new bike shop, which he says is like Mellow Johnny's. How about Sad Brad's!
HuwB

kathy wrote:
I fell asleep - and forgot to record it.

Check Eurosport's am schedules.
Brit Es have it repeated, then, so hopefully International will, too.
kathy

Saw the earlier starters, saw Fabian get a minute on everyone else, and woke up to see him cross the finish line!  Missed Brad's mechanical.
SlowRower

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8273704.stm

Wiggo's "moment" on the BBC. Sky will be delighted to have their logo so prominent on a stationary back wheel as the bike gets kicked over!
Superbagneres

HuwB wrote:
kathy wrote:
I fell asleep - and forgot to record it.

Check Eurosport's am schedules.
Brit Es have it repeated, then, so hopefully International will, too.


I'm not sure "hopefully" is quite right.

For those who missed it, the highlights were Cancellara's celebrations before crossing the line, a great shot of Tony Martin looking completely shagged out on the floor and Brad's bike throw, particularly the spectator giving him a comforting pat on the back.
MAILLOT JAUNE

Why does he feel the need to tell us that he's downed 4 pints and is now moved on to the wine? But then again, I'm dumb enough to read it  Rolling Eyes

Supposedly he had electronic gears on his bike - wonder if that contributed to him having a mechanical (if that's possible when you've got electronics).

Off to open a bottle of Cava  Wink
Superbagneres

MAILLOT JAUNE wrote:
Why does he feel the need to tell us that he's downed 4 pints and is now moved on to the wine?


All together now: Because he has downed 4 pints and has now moved on to the wine
Mrs John Murphy

Superbagneres wrote:
MAILLOT JAUNE wrote:
Why does he feel the need to tell us that he's downed 4 pints and is now moved on to the wine?


All together now: Because he has downed 4 pints and has now moved on to the wine


Didn't Floyd adopt the same training regime.

We need Cape to do some woodwatching in the RR to check for evidence of doping.
cardinal guzman

Bradley would have done much better in the days of gentleman Tom, when everyone was racing pissed.
SAP

Here's another video for those of us geo-restricted from the link above. Highlights from the tt with Wiggo's bike drop towards the end, from Canc's joy to Wiggo's dispair.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/vid...58/cancellara-destroys-field.html
Beasley

Wiggins isn't racing the RR, so he can do what he wants.

His season is over, I expect.

Next up, U23 RR on Saturday. Should be a cracker! Totally wide open, but I wouldn't bet against a future Columbia rider taking the title. Rasmus Guldhammer, L-B-L espoir winner, is my tip.
cardinal guzman

Beasley wrote:
Wiggins isn't racing the RR, so he can do what he wants.


He's a free man - he can do what he wants even if he is riding the RR - but his body's no temple! Very Happy
redster73

The boy always likes a drop after a strenuous session of bike tossing...why does it always happen to our national TTers?
kathy

Wiggo is now spouting off about how Larsson didn't deserve the silver because he drafted behind Fabian.
Bartali

Bottom line is that BW was just too slow on the day.  But, questions have to be asked about (1) where was the team car; and (2) how he managed to slip his chain and mess up his back brake.  Seems like poor preparation and not what whe have come to expect from British Cycling.
MAILLOT JAUNE

Bartali wrote:
Bottom line is that BW was just too slow on the day.  But, questions have to be asked about (1) where was the team car; and (2) how he managed to slip his chain and mess up his back brake.  Seems like poor preparation and not what whe have come to expect from British Cycling.

From what I can make out from the reports, the team car seemed to be behind Larsson. Wiggins said he didn't know where the team car was when he got off the bike - he managed to look down and fiddle with his gears/brake but he didn't seem to be able to look behind him to see where his team car was.....
Mrs John Murphy

HuwB wrote:
Ridiculously one sided affair.
While I applaud Cancellara's incredible levels of skill and fitness, I actually found the event boring, as a result.
It's hard to equate that level of superiority.


I hate to say it but would you be saying that if it were Dertie hacking up like that? FC definitely gets a very easy ride on these forums.
kathy

Mrs John Murphy wrote:
HuwB wrote:
Ridiculously one sided affair.
While I applaud Cancellara's incredible levels of skill and fitness, I actually found the event boring, as a result.
It's hard to equate that level of superiority.


I hate to say it but would you be saying that if it were Dertie hacking up like that? FC definitely gets a very easy ride on these forums.


that's because he comes over as another Mr Nice Guy, MJM.
HuwB

Mrs John Murphy wrote:
HuwB wrote:
Ridiculously one sided affair.
While I applaud Cancellara's incredible levels of skill and fitness, I actually found the event boring, as a result.
It's hard to equate that level of superiority.


I hate to say it but would you be saying that if it were Dertie hacking up like that? FC definitely gets a very easy ride on these forums.


As Kathy says, he's a great ambassador.
His skills are his own, his levels of fitness are anybody's guess.
Other than his old, wrong connections, we have nothing new to speculate upon and his passport says he's all in order, so......

However, I thought I'd left the door open, with my last sentence.
redster73

HuwB wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
HuwB wrote:
Ridiculously one sided affair.
While I applaud Cancellara's incredible levels of skill and fitness, I actually found the event boring, as a result.
It's hard to equate that level of superiority.


I hate to say it but would you be saying that if it were Dertie hacking up like that? FC definitely gets a very easy ride on these forums.


As Kathy says, he's a great ambassador.
His skills are his own, his levels of fitness are anybody's guess.
Other than his old, wrong connections, we have nothing new to speculate upon and his passport says he's all in order, so......

However, I thought I'd left the door open, with my last sentence.


I guess similar to Sampras, Man U etc etc all superior but not exactly a recipe for excitement and upset...
cyclingtv

HuwB wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
HuwB wrote:
Ridiculously one sided affair.
While I applaud Cancellara's incredible levels of skill and fitness, I actually found the event boring, as a result.
It's hard to equate that level of superiority.
I hate to say it but would you be saying that if it were Dertie hacking up like that? FC definitely gets a very easy ride on these forums.
As Kathy says, he's a great ambassador.
His skills are his own, his levels of fitness are anybody's guess.
Other than his old, wrong connections, we have nothing new to speculate upon and his passport says he's all in order, so......
However, I thought I'd left the door open, with my last sentence.
winning time gap is too huge to ignore and that is a massive avg speed.. Rolling Eyes
with such an avg speed advantage it's like he walked away from the field Very Happy
HuwB

cyclingtv wrote:
winning time gap is too huge to ignore and that is a massive avg speed.. Rolling Eyes
with such an avg speed advantage it's like he walked away from the field Very Happy

Why hello, stranger...

Exactly, but what else can be said,
without the proof of use of PED?
Little a forumite can ask, say or do,
To combat power of the new Passport TUE.Wink
maffy

hi ctv. yep, he seems like a nice guy, he's fab to watch in a time trial - which is an unusual skill, he's been targeted for intensive testing, yet he comes through ok. bellweather for team antidoping/monitoring programmes.

tbh prefer watching him win a tt to cav winning another sprint, redster Wink but then there's more sprint stages i suppose.

mccann did pretty good for a 36 year old.
Mrs John Murphy

HuwB wrote:
cyclingtv wrote:
winning time gap is too huge to ignore and that is a massive avg speed.. Rolling Eyes
with such an avg speed advantage it's like he walked away from the field Very Happy

Why hello, stranger...

Exactly, but what else can be said,
without the proof of use of PED?
Little a forumite can ask, say or do,
To combat power of the new Passport TUE.Wink


The same though could be said of Dertie as well, or even pre-busting Schumacher...

If Astana is enough to implicate someone as a doper then why not Saxo? Dodgy DS, dodgy doc...

And lets be honest if it were anyone other than Wiggins throwing the bike around then I am sure more than a few eyebrows would be raised at yesterday's temper tantrum.
Superbagneres

Mrs John Murphy wrote:
HuwB wrote:
Ridiculously one sided affair.
While I applaud Cancellara's incredible levels of skill and fitness, I actually found the event boring, as a result.
It's hard to equate that level of superiority.


I hate to say it but would you be saying that if it were Dertie hacking up like that? FC definitely gets a very easy ride on these forums.


But aren't you always telling us that foreign riders aren't as popular as English speaking riders on this forum?

Where was Levi anyway?
Nolte

maffy wrote:


mccann did pretty good for a 36 year old.


irish times made the mistake in their headline

"deignan rues slow start"
HuwB

Cooke Cooked on lap 1. Embarassed
The Lemondheads

HuwB wrote:
Cooke Cooked on lap 1. Embarassed


She got back on ok but looks nervous on the wet bends; bike handling is her only slight weakness really. The chase will have cost a lot of effort. Emma Pooley looking very smooth near the front.
The Lemondheads

HuwB wrote:
Cooke Cooked on lap 1. Embarassed


TV just saying that Nic went down in a crash with one of the Austrian riders hence going out the back. Nikki Harris also crashed heavily and I think has packed. O
HuwB

The Lemondheads wrote:
HuwB wrote:
Cooke Cooked on lap 1. Embarassed


TV just saying that Nic went down in a crash with one of the Austrian riders hence going out the back. Nikki Harris also crashed heavily and I think has packed. O


That news is all bad. Sad  
She should be alright in the wet. Raised in Wales and Bejiing wasn't exactly a dust bowl! Smile
HuwB

Ouch! The Americans blow it to bits. Pooley and Laws on the front, Lizzie A hanging and Cookie crumbles. Sad
This course is a killer!
Biosphere

Hadn't expected coverage to be on so early - thanks for heads up.
kathy

This is going to be a lottery the way things are going.  More crashes, splits on every climb.  Isn't women's racing more exciting than men's?
HuwB

It's this beaut of a course. Those climbs are both really tough and the decent from the first has 3 or 4 very technical turns.
Exciting stuff.
I'm now watching on chase play, as going out. Looking forward to catching up and the U23's this pm, although, it looks like RAITRE is the only option.

Don't think the men will wait for the usual last 2 laps, either. You can blow any race apart, before half way, if you so desire. Smile
Biosphere

kathy wrote:
This is going to be a lottery the way things are going.  More crashes, splits on every climb.  Isn't women's racing more exciting than men's?


Well I don't think a lottery is a good thing, but yes the women's racing can be a lot more attacking to watch.

It's a bit like when women fight - they go all out, whereas the wheel sucking mentality takes over for men and they just look crossly at one another scared to loose face by being beaten in front of the gathering crowd Wink

So do the GB girls have a Plan B or are they just riding hard to soften the field as if Cooke was there? Was Cooke ever Plan A this time round?

Longo's amazing.
Mrs John Murphy

Superbagneres wrote:
Mrs John Murphy wrote:
HuwB wrote:
Ridiculously one sided affair.
While I applaud Cancellara's incredible levels of skill and fitness, I actually found the event boring, as a result.
It's hard to equate that level of superiority.


I hate to say it but would you be saying that if it were Dertie hacking up like that? FC definitely gets a very easy ride on these forums.


But aren't you always telling us that foreign riders aren't as popular as English speaking riders on this forum?

Where was Levi anyway?


No, because that isn't what I have said. What I have said is that English speaking riders get an easier time from the press ie Harmon, BBC, CN etc. What I have said is certain nationalities/riders get an easier time on the forum ie cute Italian and Spanish climbers get a much easier time than f-ugly Germans and Russians.

I find it ironic that people get upset about Frodo being accused of looking like a hobbit (because he is one of 'us') but I didn't see very many people defending Hushovd when someone said he reminded them of a Nazi Storm-Trooper.

Don't say mean things about riders - really means - don't say mean things about my favourite rider.
Bartali

Beautiful ride by the Italians.  Smile
kathy

Yes, but thinking of my FP, the wrong Italian won Very Happy
kathy

Online link, U23 race

http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-uci-road-world-championships.html
Mrs John Murphy

Nasty looking crash.
kathy

They're going like bats out of hell according to CN ticker.
HuwB

Have not seen the result and am half way through the race, so I've "come in" on page 1.

Just an obsevation, but, to me, Emma Pooley is riding the race, like a domestique, not a leader. Covering everything and too close to the head of the field, all of the time.
Sharon Laws being "used up" too eaily, as well.
Not sure what to make of Lizzie Armistead, other than the fact she's riding where Pooley should be.
kathy

The link has stopped.  Anyone got another one?
kathy

Rai Tre is scrambled Twisted Evil and whatever they said yesterday, it isn't on TVE.

Edit- Rai Tre has now unscrambled itself Very Happy
HuwB

Caught up with the girls recording the lads for.....whenever!
It's either overkill, or nowt for weeks.
Yes RAITRE's Sabato Sport bit is always scrambled cos it's footie, but the cycling that follows always isn't.

Pooley, for a smart lass, rode like the plonker of the peloton.
All that donkeying left no mountain goat/greyhound legs.
cardinal guzman

Pooley rode like Cooke used to - ie like she didn't have a strong team to work for her. I didn't see the start of the race, but maybe Cooke was too proud to put in the effort for Pooley once it was clear on the first time up the first climb that it wasn't going to be her day?

Too many chiefs, not enough tactical nous - abysmal for such a strong team. Maybe it was anglo/welsh rivalry?

Another good race though - very enjoyable.

Quote:

Exactly, but what else can be said,
without the proof of use of PED?
Little a forumite can ask, say or do,
To combat power of the new Passport TUE.


You know me, never scared to jump in without a shred of 'tangible evidence'. There was nothing natural about Fab Can's win. He took the piss, but I'm not that arsed - if he hadn't been doped, it would have left me with not much to enthuse about but it was incredible to watch that speed on that course - who says the drugs don't work?!
http://www.newscientist.com/artic...ving-pharmaceutical-industry.html
MAILLOT JAUNE

cardinal guzman wrote:
Pooley rode like Cooke used to - ie like she didn't have a strong team to work for her. I didn't see the start of the race, but maybe Cooke was too proud to put in the effort for Pooley once it was clear on the first time up the first climb that it wasn't going to be her day?

Too many chiefs, not enough tactical nous - abysmal for such a strong team. Maybe it was anglo/welsh rivalry?

Another good race though - very enjoyable.

Cooke wasn't in her best form to start (recently had a virus, which I'm not sure she had fully recovered from) with and crashed heavily in the first lap as the roads were wet and slippy at the start of the race. I don't think there's a problem with her working for Pooley or anyone else from the team as she had said she would if it proved that someone else was stronger that day. Pooley's style is quite different as she is so small that she is strong on the climbs but not so good sprinting, plus she doesn't like sitting in the peloton so tends to be at the front, which means she ends uo doing a lot of work.
kathy

Yes!!! Very Happy  Very Happy  Very Happy
cardinal guzman

MAILLOT JAUNE wrote:

Cooke wasn't in her best form to start (recently had a virus, which I'm not sure she had fully recovered from) with and crashed heavily in the first lap as the roads were wet and slippy at the start of the race. I don't think there's a problem with her working for Pooley or anyone else from the team as she had said she would if it proved that someone else was stronger that day. Pooley's style is quite different as she is so small that she is strong on the climbs but not so good sprinting, plus she doesn't like sitting in the peloton so tends to be at the front, which means she ends uo doing a lot of work.


Ah, I see. I know about Pooleys style, but couldn't understand where the rest of the team had gone by the time I tuned in.

I was just running my mouth off in a disappointed fashion.
cyclingtv

entire elite womens race.. geo-restricted? I don't know.. enjoy..

http://www.universalsports.com/me...bml?id=650698&db_oem_id=23000
HuwB

Valverde was given number 18 for tomorrows road race.

Maybe the UCI does have a sense of humor, that was the same number on his blood bag in Fuentes fridge.
Superbagneres

Mrs John Murphy wrote:
Superbagneres wrote:


But aren't you always telling us that foreign riders aren't as popular as English speaking riders on this forum?

Where was Levi anyway?


No, because that isn't what I have said. What I have said is that English speaking riders get an easier time from the press ie Harmon, BBC, CN etc. What I have said is certain nationalities/riders get an easier time on the forum ie cute Italian and Spanish climbers get a much easier time than f-ugly Germans and Russians.

I find it ironic that people get upset about Frodo being accused of looking like a hobbit (because he is one of 'us') but I didn't see very many people defending Hushovd when someone said he reminded them of a Nazi Storm-Trooper.


Thanks for clearing that up. I had taken your comment about Oscar Freire;

Loses out in the JC stakes because he isn't an English speaker.

to imply that non-English speakers were not as popular on this forum as English speakers.

And while I am on, exactly which poster(s) are you referring to when you say people get upset about Frodo/Cav being accused of looking like a hobbit? I for one have discussed many aspects of him many times with you and others, but one aspect I have never had the slightest interest in whether he looks like a hobbit, or whether you think he looks like one (I have never read a Tolkein book or seen the films, and if my life goes to plan things will stay that way). And I can't remember seeing the Hushovd reference you mention, but I am equally uninterested in that.
Mrs John Murphy

More and more bizarre from you. The comment about Freire was about recognition and the comment about people getting an easy time was in reference to doping. A huge fucking difference.

Did I say that you had complained about Hobbit comparisons? No. My point was that outrage only ever goes so far - it only ever kicks in when our favourite riders are being criticised.
Superbagneres

Perhaps you have a point, and black is white. Anyway, don't keep us in the proverbial suspenders - tell us who it was that apparently got upset about the hobbit thing.
Mrs John Murphy

Unlike some people I don't keep a register of who said what but I recall various people complaining - FF I imagine since he likes a whinge. I am sure that if you were to do a search for Hobbit or Frodo, you'd be able to find out. Although I'd have thought that even you would have better things to do.
Superbagneres

Right - so it is for me to find evidence for something which I think didn't happen but you say did.
Fontfroide

Just to end the suspense, I admit that a few times (when I first got on the forum) I found MJM's (and others') just plain silly nicknames and unnecessary remarks about various riders, including "hobbit Cav" to be ... well, just plain silly.  Apparently this is a "whinge".  When I challenged her to show the similarity, she put up two pictures, one of Cav and one of the actor made up to look like someone's idea of a hobbit.  Personally I saw no resemblance, and left it at that.  I still think it is silly to say a rider looks like a hobbit or a gangster or a storm trooper.  Actually it is a bit tasteless and verging on some form of racist stereotyping too.  If it is humour it is long pas the sell by date.  Although that is obviously a matter of taste.  In fact I just ignore most of MJM's constant moans about drugs and riders now.  Seems easier for all that way.  

I read her more perceptive and well researched  posts about cycling ones, but I just ignore the constant whining about drugs and accusations about this or that rider.  Shame she wastes such intelligence on drug obsessions.

So yes, I admit to being minorly annoyed at the nicknames and accusations and silliness about riders.  The funny thing is that everyone looks like someone else or something else.  I look a bit like a swarthy Mediterranean type, due to being genetically half Bulgarian.  You could say I look like a Sicilian Mafia guy or whatever.  Actually I also have passed for Jewish and Greek and even Maghrebin.  As Thor might look like a B movie Storm Trooper.  So what.  But on the whole all that silliness is a small price to pay for the other benefits of the forum, including some posts of MJM's.
Biosphere

Now live on the BBC red button.
maffy

HuwB wrote:
Valverde was given number 18 for tomorrows road race.

Maybe the UCI does have a sense of humor, that was the same number on his blood bag in Fuentes fridge.


so he has. about time too. thank u for the funny spot Wink
kathy

At least the weather's half decent there today.  One crash already - Wrolich? hurt.

       justcycling.myfastforum.org Forum Index -> Cycling Forum Page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3
Create your own free forum | Buy a domain to use with your forum