Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Reckon you've got the "Hots and Nots" right on ft.

Fabs vs Boonen is shaping up nicely for TOF and PR let's hope Thor can come to the party.

I think you're right that BMC would be a little disappointed thus far, not so much with Cadel there's still time, but Thor and Gilbert have not shown anything so far. A result in one of the upcoming monuments will change perceptions pretty quickly though.

Timing will be everything for Wiggins won't it. Still he's been at it for a while now and would be surrounded by good people so he's a fair chance of being at his best in July.

As you say it's early but there's a heap to look forward to

I'm a bit puzzled by Wiggins and Sky at the moment. Yeah he's in great form, but no other TdF contender other than Levi(?) has yet to show their hand. I assume that Nibali is working towards the Giro not for July.

So he rides this form till the tour, when Sky will be gunning for yellow and green, then straight after going for the gold in the Olympic ITT and guessing he'll be helping Cav again for the road race! Thats a hell of a lot of racing and peaking.

Personally, I think he'd be better targeting the Giro or Veulta and the Olympics but maybe this years ITT orientated TdF is too tempting to not have a go. Easy being an armchair director sportif from here of course!

Interesting is an understatement.

The olymipcs is skewing things a bit, and I found it interesting in an article where Fabs is syaing that he is concentrating on the ORR, and not 110% for the team at the TdF ......

GE are doing reasonable so far, and mopping up some points here and there.

But it is still early days.

Looking fwd to the next few months to see where it all comes out .....

Cam Meyer got third in Tirreno-Adriatico final Time trial and gets 10th overall in GC.

Sam

Should we post our predictions for the main races as they approach - one pick each for the win?

I will go with Cav for Milan san Remo.

Cav definitely has the form, he'd be the favorite with the bookies ? I'd like to pick Goss but I don't think he's going that well (he'll win for sure now )

If Sagan is riding it I'll go with him to win out of an elite escape group containing Fab and Boonen

Latest UCI World Tour points incl Tirreno results

Interesting to see where some teams are early in the season. GE doing well due to winning the TdU. Saxo & Garmin are not doing real well. Quick Step are also pretty low despite some good wins by Boonen, but not in WT races !!

Must be some nervous managers there ...


1. RadioShack-Nissan 233 pts
2. Sky Procycling 219
3. Movistar Team 192
4. Vacansoleil-DCM 176
5. Katusha Team 126
6. Liquigas-Cannondale 123
7. GreenEdge Cycling Team 118
8. Astana Pro Team 89
9. AG2R La Mondiale 74
10. BMC Racing Team 52
11. FDJ-Big Mat 47
12. Lampre - ISD 42
13. Omega Pharma-Quickstep 33
14. Lotto Belisol Team 31
15. Rabobank Cycling Team 27
16. Garmin - Barracuda 6
17. Team Saxo Bank 1

MichaelB wrote:1. RadioShack-Nissan 233 pts
2. Sky Procycling 219
3. Movistar Team 192
4. Vacansoleil-DCM 176
5. Katusha Team 126
6. Liquigas-Cannondale 123
7. GreenEdge Cycling Team 118
8. Astana Pro Team 89
9. AG2R La Mondiale 74
10. BMC Racing Team 52
11. FDJ-Big Mat 47
12. Lampre - ISD 42
13. Omega Pharma-Quickstep 33
14. Lotto Belisol Team 31
15. Rabobank Cycling Team 27
16. Garmin - Barracuda 6
17. Team Saxo Bank 1

I guess it is early to tell, but I'm surprised with BMC.

Milan San Remo will be interesting, if it's a big bunch sprint then Cav is really hard to go past. I'll be interested if there is a move on the Poggio. I'm going to be watch Gerrans, he has a decent sprint on him and i reckon alot of teams are going to be wanting to avoid a bunch sprint.

Greenedge have had a good start but there stated goal was the Classics and there going to have to race a little smarter than they have in some races. Gerran's is looking good for the Ardenne's classic's. Flanders and Roubaix are up in there air not sure who they are going to be riding for.

Wiggins has to be looking at peaking twice for the season, my cynical side says his wanting to come out strong to make sure Sky still keep him in mind for the Tour. Sky will have to make a choice with there Tour team, Yellow or Green going for both will almost certainly mean that neither is achieved. Everyone is talking up the Olympics but the Tour is always the race they want do well in, if they can carry there form to the Olympics its a bonus

I really hope MSR doesn't come down to a bunch sprint. I like Cav but it's the sort of race that would be much more entertaining if a break is able to stay away (even if just final kms), also if it did come down to a sprint you know he's just sat in the whole time (not that that's an easy feat) rather than have someone who has been at the front doing work/smashing themselves in a break, who would be much more deserving of a win in a race like MSR I reckon.

And yeah the whole sky/wiggins/cav thing for the tour needs to be sorted out!

I think Sky will be going for both. I think they believe they can do it, I am yet to be convinced that they cannot. The key is not to get Cav in the Green Jersey too early, same for wiggins. Cav has the ability to win the last stage, Wiggins could take the yellow jersey on the last TT. I think their goals would be to pick up both jerseys right at the end. If they dont have to defend jerseys it would make it a lot easier. I also dont think Cav needs a big train and I dont think he will get one except for maybe on a few stages, it will be up to him and Eisel most the time.

i would like to see Heinrich Haussler get a win at MSR
but cav will be hard to beat!
not much talk of Gilbert yet doesnt seam in form.

ni78ck wrote:i would like to see Heinrich Haussler get a win at MSR
but cav will be hard to beat!
not much talk of Gilbert yet doesnt seam in form.

Plenty of talk about Gilbert...all about him not being on form and lately about him being ill (he withdrew from that last stage race with a fever). Not sure how quickly these guys can turn things around???

Sam

ni78ck wrote:i would like to see Heinrich Haussler get a win at MSR

+1 he's saying how good he feels at the moment too.

Thor is out....

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/ ... ver_209411

ft_critical wrote:I will go with Cav for Milan san Remo.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/ ... emo_209413

ni78ck wrote:i would like to see Heinrich Haussler get a win at MSR

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/ ... ack_209363

Chuck wrote:Timing will be everything for Wiggins won't it. Still he's been at it for a while now and would be surrounded by good people so he's a fair chance of being at his best in July.

nope, he's peaked too early. he has no hope at the tour

ni78ck wrote:not much talk of Gilbert yet doesnt seam in form.

maybe his focus is not on the classics this yea and is aiming to be at his best to help Cadel win Le Tour

Look at Cancellara last year he had just come off his most dominant season, everyone was tipping him and he struggled early. It seems that some of these guys hit a big block of form, have a really good year and then have some issues the following season getting back up there till late in the season i wouldnt be surprised to see Gilbert get back on form for the Tour, ORR and Worlds.

This is the cover of Bicycling Australia, this month.



I love the way the reflection of the signage is perfectly aligned in Andre's glasses. Geeky, I know.

Greipel for MSR if he's still wearing that powerband!

RICHARDH wrote:Look at Cancellara last year he had just come off his most dominant season, everyone was tipping him and he struggled early. It seems that some of these guys hit a big block of form, have a really good year and then have some issues the following season getting back up there till late in the season i wouldnt be surprised to see Gilbert get back on form for the Tour, ORR and Worlds.

Fabian was still the strongest rider in the classics last year, but had no friends because of that fact.

Cadel gets the first result for BMC this season (and takes the overall lead)....

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/critri ... -2/results

Mick Rogers is right up there too Tonight's final stage should be excellent

And Philippe Gilbert abandoned the E3 which Tom Boonen won...no idea what happened??? But still not looking any good yet for Gilbert???

Also looks like Michael Albasini should take out the Volta a Catalunya for Greenedge...one stage to go...

Cadel wins the Criterium International 2012. Really cool video of the last 20min of the last mountain top finish where Cadel finished with the front group of 4 to wins the GC.
http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/dai ... ig&yr=2012

Cadel had 2 team mates with him until the final km or so, played a great tactical climb.

RICHARDH wrote:Milan San Remo will be interesting, if it's a big bunch sprint then Cav is really hard to go past. I'll be interested if there is a move on the Poggio. I'm going to be watch Gerrans, he has a decent sprint on him and i reckon alot of teams are going to be wanting to avoid a bunch sprint.

Wish I'd gone and put money on him now

Strange Rover wrote:Cadel wins the Criterium International 2012. Really cool video of the last 20min of the last mountain top finish where Cadel finished with the front group of 4 to wins the GC.

Frank Schleck...BOOM BOOM, lights out

Frandy have been woeful so far. Maybe they are trying to peak for the Vuelta?