Entertainment For Lively Minds
Young men in lycra with shiny helmets: Huzzah, the pro cycling season has started
I'm up late (with four pack of Tanglefoot inspired by the bitter thread) for the latest stage of the European season opener stage race Paris Nice.
I flippin' love professional cycling, in fact I love watching any kind of cycling, including junior and senior races at my local 1k track (Litherland Park Sports Centre).
I know there's a few rouleurs in the massive - what are your predictions for the season?
Depending on entries/ injuries, I predict:
a) Contador for two of the Grand Tours (with some ease despite having a crackpot team)
b) Armstrong to struggle in Le Tour to even get a top 10 (amid further 1999 allegations) and still criminally get the majority of the coverage.
c) Boasson Hagen to upstage Wiggo and emerge as Sky team leader.
d) Cav to struggle with a poorer lead out train in the tours, but win one or two of the spring classics. Hopefully he'll also to be in the mix for a favourable worlds course and then take Britain's first road race rainbow band since Tom Simpson.
e) Wiggo to win his first grand tour stage in a time trial - can't expect much more given grand tours' routes.
f) Cancellara to take Paris Roubaix, because he is awesome.
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prediction
that performance enhancing drugs will be involved...
Like, duuhh!
Everyone knows that.
It's who has the cleverest ones which can't be detected that wins. Now where's my fake penis, bag of piss, masking agents and syringe gone?
See you at the top of Mont Ventoux.
Pro v Am
I'm a commuting cyclist and very interested in reading about cycling-related matters, especially to do with increasing and enhancing the cycling infrastructure. And yet, I have zero interest in competitive cycling. Don't really know why.
While we're on the subject, may I put in a little plea for anyone who might like to sponsor me (retrospectively) for a 50 mile ride I did on Sunday, proceeds to a very worthwhile cause. If interested please take a look at my profile. And many thanks to the member of the Massive who donated.
I love it too
... but I don't see much as I don't have FancyTelly. I reckon
a) Contador to win Grand Tours pretty much on his own. With little team support, he's going to have be agressive.
b) That's bad news for Armstrong and Wiggo, who'll be blown right out of contention early on.
c) Sky will have little impact in the biggest events and will end the season poaching around for a mega-name.
d) Cav will have less trouble than people expect, but doesn't contest the green.
Another fan here
a) Surprised that Contador has started the season so well. Will he be able to sustain it to the end? Given the route of the tour he has to be hot favourite, with only Andy Schleck being a possible challenger if Contador has a couple of tough days in the mountains.
b) I think Armstrong will finish the Tour lower than last year, but probaqbly still in the Top Ten.
c) Boasson Hagen is a great prospect but I don't think he has ridden the Tour yet and is unlikely to eclipse Wiggo on his first time out.
d) Not sure that Cav is ready to win any of the Spring Classics after his delayed start to the season. He should be in tune for the tour and will have a great chance of the green if he can get over the mountains. Hopefully his late start will mean that he is still at his peak come the World Champs, where the course should suit him. Rainbow jersey for Cav.
e) I don't think that Wiggo can beat Cancellara in a grand tour time trial.
f) Paris-Roubaix. Who knows? 3 in a row for Boonen?
Just can't get enough...
Can't wait for Paris-Roubaix. Boonen to give everyone a beasting again...
Contador looks in fine fettle
Contador looked in absolutely incredible nick the last two days - I think they'll all have to hope he does a Mayo and falls on the pavé early in the Tour.
Will Cancellara lose a decent lengthed TT all season?
RealPeloton
I've just discovered the RealPeloton podcast. They're like the Hepworth and Ellen of cycling. Much more fun than the cycling news podcast I used to get.
The different shades of lycra & patterns..
... are code - shorthand for 'preferences'